Ground connection



22, 1938. c. NEWPHER 9 97 GROUND CONNECTION Filed Nov. 5, 1936 i INVENTOR.

MWVX

ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 22, 1938 GROUND CONNECTION Charles F. Newpher, Shaker Heights, Ohio, as- Signor to Republic Steel Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a, corporation of New Jersey Application November 5, 1936, Serial No. 109,278

4 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to electrical ground connectors and more specifically to a sleeve and rod construction which is adapted to facilitate the use of rods of relatively short length to secure an assembly which will provide an efiective electric ground connection.

In the installation of apparatus for supporting high tension wires, it is necessary to provide ground connections at various points along the lines in order to permit transmission of static electricity and also to ground the poles or supporting structure in case the apparatus is struck by lightning. In forming the ground connection, the workman making the installation is often forced to use a rod of considerable length before an efiicient ground connection can be obtained. Since the workman is unable to anticipate the proper length of the rod at the beginning of such operation, it has been found necessary to use rods of substantial length, but such prac= tice usually entails theme of scaffolding. To avoid such practice various expedients have been employed to connect short lengths of rod and progressively connect the same with pipe nipples or threaded couplings. This practice is objectionable since the threads must be preserved during shipment and further, the impact tools used in sinking the rod sections into the earth, upset or multilate the ends of the sections rendering them unfit for use.

The present invention contemplates a rod coupling which is adapted to envelop the end of the rod which has been driven in the ground and effect an automatic connection with the second length of rod which may be superposed thereover and driven down in the same manner as the first rod section. It will be understood that any munber of rod sections may beadded, in the manner just described, until a sufficient depth has been attained to eifect a suitable grounding connection.

The coupling member as herein contemplated may also be utilized as a driving head for receiving the impacts of the pneumatic hammers employed in sinking the rod section into the earth. A suitable adapter may be provided which will abut the end wall of the bore in the coupling thus eliminating any mutilation or upsetting of the rod end or coupling. I

Another object and advantage of the invention resides in the construction of the rod and improved coupling which is economic of manufactlire, sturdy and durable.

Other objects and advantages moreor less ancillary of the foregoing and the manner in which PATENT OFFICE all the various objects are realized will appear in the following description which, considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, sets forth the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. l is an elevational'view of an electric wire supporting structure or pole and illustrates the improved ground connection as driven in the earth;

Fig. 22 is a detailed view shown on an enlarged scale illustrating the ground rod connected with the base of an electric tower;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the coupling member and a pair of rods connected thereby; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the coupling illustrated in Fig. 3, the sectionlbeing taken on the plane indicated by line flt 3.

As illustrated. in 1, tion comprises a plurality of rod sections it united by the coupling members ii, the last sec-= tion of which extends slightly above the earth's surface. while the leading section may be pointed to facilitate the driving of the assembly into the ground. The lead cable or ground line it and clamp 63 therefor may be of any well known or desired type, such for instance as the U-bolt shown in Fig. 2 and the wire or bus-bar shown: in Figs. 1 and 2 respectively.

As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4i the end portions id of the rods it are formed with longitudinal serrations or teeth which may be of suitable height relative to the diameter or" the bores it in the end portions of the sleeve to deform and out key-ways therein as the rods are driven to gether, or which may be formed for frictional engagement within broached openings of complemental form in the ends of the sleeves ii.

The extreme end portions of the rod are pref= erably formed with a shank i1 and a rounded end face iii in order to effect proper engagement with the end wall or bottom of the bore it. The shank or reduced end portion ii is also provided to prevent mutilation of the serrations [5 during .the driving operation and to assure the entry of the rods with the couplings as they are successively added to the assembly while being driven into the ground. It will be readily recognized that the the ground ccnneo provision of the serrations IE will increase the area and thus assure a suitable electrical connecticn and without loss of rigidity of structure. Moreover the coupling will facilitate an installation which may be expeditiously effected by one individual and without help, since the rod sectudinal serrations mam-mam effective electrical tions may be made relatively short and may be connection between the coupling and rod when the quickly united without the use of tools durin the installation of the ground connection.

When the removal of the rod and sleeve assembly is contemplated, which is necessary in the event some hard substance such as rock is struck before reaching sufiicie'ntdepth to insure an effective grounding connection, the engagementof the serrations within the end portions of the sleeve are made to effect a relatively tight or drive fit, the form of construction in which the serrations of the rod ll constitute the broaching element to cut the grooves in the bore of the sleeve, being a preferable type of connection for this purpose.

Although the foregoing description is necessarily of a detailed character, in order that the invention may be'completely set forth, it is to be understood that the specific terminology is not intended to be restrictive or confining, and that various rearrangements of parts and modifications of detail may be resorted to without departing from receive the serrated portions of said rods and retain the same in frictional engagement, the longirod'lengths are driven into the ground.

2. A ground connection for electrical apparatus comprising a plurality of relatively short lengths of rod, longitudinal teeth adjacent the ends thereof, a coupling comprising a body having longitudinal bores in the end portions thereof, longitudinal teeth in said bores of complemental configuration with the teeth in said rod and in interlocking frictional engagement therewith.

3. A ground connection for electrical apparatus comprising a plurality of relatively short lengths of rod, longitudinal serrations adjacent the ends thereof, coupling members for joining said rods, said coupling members comprising a body having longitudinal bores in the opposed ends thereof, serrations in said bores, said bores and serrations being proportioned relative the serrated portion of said rods to effect a frictional engagement therebetween, whereby said rods may be successively assembled into an effective electrical conductor bysuperposing said couplings on said rods and driving said rods into said couplings.

4; A ground connection for electrical apparatus comprising a plurality of rod lengths, said rod 

